Tooth whitening (sometimes know as tooth bleaching), has become a fairly routine procedure in general and cosmetic dentistry. Everyone wants a nice bright smile. White teeth are associated with youth and attractiveness and have become a desirable feature for many. Perhaps this has had something to do with the spread of American culture through films seen worldwide. The perfect white teeth of your average film star has become known as the Hollywood smile.
White teeth can give your confidence a boost, you are less self conscious of smiling and it makes you feel more attractive. A recent estimate found that one third off all Americans have tried or have inquired about teeth whitening treatments. You can judge the popularity of the process as an estimated ten million Americans will spend nearly 1.7 billion dollars on tooth whitening services and products over the course of this year.
As a person get older teeth tend to become darker in color. This is a result of many factors including the changes in the mineral structure of the teeth and staining due to tobacco and foodstuffs.
Teeth whitening procedures can be quite effective but there are advantages and disadvantages with each procedure which need to be weighed up before undergoing treatment. The procedure can be carried out at a dentist or some products can be bought over the counter. The actual teeth whitening procedure will use a chemical like hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide (the oxidizing agent) to lighten the shade of the teeth by bleaching and removing discoloration. The oxidizing agent can usual bleach stains that reside in both the enamel and dentine layers of the teeth.
There are two main methods of whitening teeth. The first method involves using a fairly low concentration of the oxidizing agent. This is held against the teeth using a mouth guard for several hours each day over a period of anything between 5 and 14 days. This is an at-home teeth whitening procedure and is usually more popular because it is less expensive and more convenient than the second method. There are many products available for this method, most of which can now be bought over the counter. If you are going to be using the method than you should follow the treatment instructions carefully. Over bleaching can result in over white teeth often known in the industry as “fridge-door teeth”! Costs for these type of products are rarely more than about $35.
The second method involves applying a high concentration of oxidizing agent for only a short period of time. You get quick results with this method but it can result in burns to the soft tissues if the procedure is not carried out properly. The process is usually carried out at a dentists because of this risk. The procedure can often achieve between four to six shades of whitening after only one 40 minute treatment. Cost can vary between $300 and $1000.
Bleaching or whitening can produce some pretty dramatic improvements for those with stained teeth. It should be remembered however that not all stains respond to bleaching and that white spots (decalcifications) can become more noticeable. An effect called Rebound which is teeth losing the bleached effect over a period of a month or so has been noted in some studies on Teeth whitening. In should also be noted that some over the counter American teeth whitening products have been banned in Europe over health concerns.
Used sensibly teeth whitening products can give you the smile you always wanted. But before deciding what procedure and products you want to use you should carefully consider the pros and cons of the treatment. Hopefully this post about teeth whitening has given you the basics to make an informed choice.
Is Teeth Whitening Safe? In Europe some Teeth Whitening products have been banned. Get the real facts now at the Teeth Whitening Resource Website.
Tags: Health